LINGARD, WILLIAM (1845-1922) was born in County Clare, Ireland, the son of an officer of the British army who served in the Waterloo campaign. He was educated in Yorkshire, and was intended for the army, but becoming slightly deaf had to change his course and came to New Zealand in 1863. He served in the 2nd Waikato militia during the Waikato war; then farmed in the Wanganui and Waitotara districts, and served successively in the Prince of Wales Rifles, the Alexandra Lancers (1865), the Wanganui Cavalry and the Kai-iwi Cavalry. While engaged with the last-named corps in front of Tauranga-ika (Feb 1869), he was with a party of four reconnoitring the position when they were suddenly fired upon. Troop-sergeant Maxwell was badly wounded, and Trooper Henry Wright was pinned down by his horse falling on him. He was about to be tomahawked when Lingard rode up and freed him, covering him with his revolver while he retreated. He then rode round to the back of the pa and captured a horse, with which they made good their escape. Lingard received the New Zealand Cross. He was afterwards in charge of a party of scouts, but was invalided at Patea and the command fell to C. Maling (q.v.). Lingard farmed for some years afterwards and then entered into an insurance and land agency in Wellington. He was on the Wellington City Council (1896-99).

N.Z. Army records; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Gudgeon (p); Cowan.

Reference: Volume 1, page 266

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